title: Health outcomes and costs among employees with fibromyalgia treated with pregabalin vs. standard of care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare comorbidities, drug use, benefit costs, absences, medication persistence/adherence between employees with fibromyalgia initiating treatment with pregabalin (PGB) vs. antidepressant Standard of Care ([SOC] amitriptyline, duloxetine, or venlafaxine).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 240 adults initiating PGB or SOC after 7/1/2007. Multivariate regression models on propensity-score-matched cohorts compared postindex costs, absences, and adherence between cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregabalin users had significantly more preindex muscle pain and dizziness and less depression than SOC (each P < 0.05). Use of some non-PBG/SOC drugs differed. No differences were found in total medical, drug, or absenteeism cost. PGB had more sick leave (9.8 vs. 6.8 days, P = 0.04), but other absence types were similar. All adherence metrics were nonsignificantly greater for PGB vs. SOC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite several comorbidity and drug use differences, most employee benefit outcomes and adherence did not differ between the cohorts.
authors.affiliation: HCMS Group, Cheyenne, Wyoming Pfizer Inc., New York, U.S.A. nathan_kleinman@hcmsgroup.com
authors.forename: Nathan L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Wendy D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cappelleri
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Beren
authors.forename: Ashish V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000700:Analgesics / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017049:Employer Health Costs; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000069583:Pregabalin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D059039:Standard of Care / Q000191:economics*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid